Russia Set to Roll Out Satellite Internet Service to Compete with Starlink by Year-End

Russia’s space agency is set to unveil its initial group of satellite internet terminals later this year, as part of its initiative to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink network, announced Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov on Thursday.

«The inaugural launch is planned for the end of this year,» Bakanov revealed to the state-run TASS news agency, noting that the mission will carry 16 satellites. «This approach mirrors how Starlink was launched.»

The Rassvet low-orbit satellites, created by the Russian aerospace firm Bureau 1440, aim to deliver broadband internet access. Over 900 satellites are anticipated to be launched by 2035, with commercial services involving more than 250 satellites expected to commence in 2027.

Earlier this week, Bakanov stated that Roscosmos would start the regular deployment of these satellites in December 2023.

Rassvet is part of a larger Russian space development initiative, estimated to cost 4.4 trillion rubles ($57 billion), which was approved by President Vladimir Putin last week.

Starlink terminals have played a crucial role in supporting Ukraine’s communication needs on the battlefield since the Russian invasion in 2022. Kyiv has accused Russian forces of using Starlink devices that were unlawfully acquired from other countries.

Putin first introduced the concept of a Starlink competitor, dubbed Sfera, back in 2018, but that project was abandoned due to sanctions on Roscosmos.

In June 2023, Roscosmos launched three satellites under the Rassvet-1 initiative, led by former director Yury Borisov, who was dismissed in February following a series of setbacks and halted projects.